Elastic corset



Sept. 2, 1930. R. A. PlDGEoN ELASTIC conss'r Filed June 1'7, 1926 lul] Patented Sept. 2, l1930 PATENT OFFICE ROBERT A. PIDGEON, OF NEEDEAM HEIGHTS, MASSACHUSETTS ELASTIG CORSET Application led l.Tune 17,

This invention relates to form-reducing and form-shaping garments and has for an object the provision of a unitary, idealforni-shaped, seamless and endlessk elastic corset which combines the functions of a girdle and a brassire in reducing yand moulding the body, and avoids the discomfort occasioned by the seams or edge of prio garments for similar purposes; and by t e use of a separate girdle and brassire.

A further object is the provision of an elasticform-reducing garment which is inherently porous or ventilated, so that it may be worn without discomfort to the wearer.

A yet further object of the invention is the provision ofan elastic corset composed of sections having different degrees of compression, as a corset having a hip-portion adapted to exert a heavy, and a busteportion adapted to exert a light, compression on the body of the wearer. l

A further object of the invention is generally to improve the construction of formreducingV and form-shaping garments.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the corset embodying the invention i's worn.

'Fig 2 is a front View of the ccrset and illustrating particularly the shaping thereof.

Fig. 3 is a detail` taken along line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and illustrating the construction of the upper and lower portions of the Corset.

The reducing and firm-shaping or molding corset embodying this invention comprises a tubular knitted fabric web of suitable length which is entirely without seams or separated sections. The fabric preferably is knitted on a circular knitting machine and is shaped during the knitting process to provide an enlarged lower portion 12, a reduced intermediate or waist portion 14 and a slightly enlarged upper portion 16, which portions are adapted to conform with the hips, waist and bust respectively, of the wearer. The tubular fabric is rendered elastic throu hout bythe inclusion of horizontal courses o covered elastic rubber threads 18 and 2O which are laid in between the loops 22 of the courses of yarn of the fabric in the process of knitting. -The rubber thread is continuous 1926. Serial No. 116,685.

throughout its courses. The tension on the rubber thread is adapted to be varied as may be necessary and in any suitable and well understood manner, for the herein novel purpose of attaining the desired shape of the t tubular fabric, and the corset. The thread may be under relatively slight tension where the hip-portion 12 of the tubular fabric is being knitted ;y and the tension may be gradually increased, as the knittin progresses, to draw in the fabric-loops and t ereby draw in and shape the fabric at the waist. Preferably, the shaping of the corset is effected entirely by varying the tension of the elastic threads. For certain purposes, however, some if not all of the shaping of the corset may be effected by varying the tension on the yarn threads, in the usual manner, and the rubber threads will then be laid in the yarn courses under but little tension. The corset is adapted to have such length as to extend, on the body or torso, from above the breasts to below the hips, and is adapted to have a compressional effect v011 the body throughout its length. The hip-portion 12 of the corset, or that portion from and below the middle is adapted to have a greater com' pressional effect than the bust portion 16, or that portion above the middle. To this end, the elastic threads 18 in the lower portion of the corset are heavier than the threads 20 in the upper portion thereof and are closer together, as by being in every yarn course of the fabric, while the courses of the threads 20 are farther apart, as by being in every other yarnhcourse.

In'this manner, the corset compresses the hips and abdominal regions of the body the most strongly While it exerts a gentle yet 90 firm' pressure on the breasts and thus comfortably shapes and molds the vfigure along pleasing natural lines which give the appearance of an uncorseted body. Since the lcorset isl of one piece and is seamless and endless, itcannot cut into the body and flesh cannot collect beneath the corset in -unsightly and uncomfortable folds. V

The corset is in the nature of a step-in in that the upper or brassire-portion is 1. An elastic corset having s bust-portion sud shipsoriios said corset being composed 0i il Seamless, tubular, knitted unitary abric having courses of elastic threads contained in the courses of the knitted fabric, with the elastic thread in the bust-portion of the corset more yielding than the elastic thread in the hip-portion of the corset.

2. An elastic corset having a bust portion,

-and a hip-portion said corset being composed of a seamless, tubular, havin tainedg y the corset and courses of li ht rubber thread contained in the courses o the bust-portion of the corset.

3. An elastic corset having a bust-portion and a hip-portion said corset being com osed of a seamless, tubular, knitted, unitary abrio having a course of heavy rubber thread in each yarn course of the hiportion of the fabric and a course of light ru ber thread in each alternate yarn course of the bust-portion of the fabric.

4. An elastic corset havin Waist portions said corset eing com osed of a seamless, tubular, knitted, unitary abric having a course of heavy rubber thread on each yarn course of the hip-portion of the fabric and a course of light rubber thread in each alternate yarn course of the bust-portion of the fabric, and said bust and hip-portion being larger than the Waist portion of the fabric.

5. An apparel garment comprising a. continuous girdle section of elastic fabric having circumferentially continuous strands of elastic material therein, and a brassire section also of elastic fabric and also having circumferentially continuous strands of' elastic ma terial therein, the said sections being merged at substantially the waistline and the strands of elastic material in the said sections being so arranged that the resistance to tension of the fabric of the girdle section is appreciably greater than the resistance to tension of the fabric of the brassire section.

6. An apparel garment comprising a continuous girdle section, and a continuous brassire section, the said sections being merged at substantially the Waistline and both wholly made of elastic fabric having circumferentially continuous elastic strands therein, the

knitted, unitary fabric courses of heavy rubber thread conbust, hip, ma

elastic strands in the girdle section being `spaced closer than the elastic strands in the brassire section whereby the girdle section in the courses of the hip-portion of i 

